200 BIRDS OF THE NEW YORK CITY REGION 



BRONX REGION. Bred formerly. Now a rare transient, 

 April 11, 1919 (L. N. Nichols) to May 3, 1920 (L. N. Nichols); 

 September 13, 1921 (Griscom). 



New Jersey. Uncommon transient near the Hudson River, 

 decreasing northwestward. Mr. Urner's dates near Elizabeth are 

 April 2, 1922 to May 20, 1917; August 10, 1921 to October 13, 

 1918. These are excellently representative. Even as far inland as 

 Newton, Sussex County, it has been noted as late as October 12, 

 1914 (Hix). Casual December 25, 1918 near Morristown (R. C. 

 Caskey). 



ENGLEWOOD REGION. Uncommon but regular transient; 



March 27, 1921 (Griscom and Janvrin) to May 25, 1890 (F. 



M. Chapman); no good fall arrival date; latest October 20. 



1907 (Hix and Rogers). 



BARN OWL (Aluco pratincola)ig. 16 



The Barn Owl is a rare resident in our area, but is in all 

 probability commoner than the scant records would indicate, 

 as no Owl is so nocturnal, so generally silent, and more 

 easily overlooked. Its chosen haunts are often almost impos- 

 sible of investigation. If the student could search church 

 steeples, belfries, dove-cots in old farm buildings, and barns, 

 as zealously as he did conifer groves and hollows in trees, he 

 would undoubtedly see more Barn Owls. The bird rarely 

 nests in hollow trees in our area, and it is exceptional to find 

 it roosting in conifers. It is at the northern limit of its range 

 here, but seems to wander around to a certain extent after 

 the breeding season, as it turns up in the most unexpected 

 places, either north of its known breeding range, or at a place 

 like Montauk Point, where its nesting is inconceivable. The 

 very light coloration, long legs, and prominent facial disks, 

 prevent the Barn Owl from being confused with any other 

 species. It is too often shot on sight as a curiosity, and the 

 evidence before me would show that it is less common than 

 formerly. 



